Innovation
Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at S & S Floats. We’re ideas people and thrive on finding new solutions to combat some of the challenges facing the industry. We’re working with others on many fronts to continue to improve our environmental footprint.
Ngā Punga o Te Moana:
Anchoring our Open Ocean Aquaculture Future
Ngā Punga o Te Moana:
Ngā Punga o Te Moana: Anchoring our Open Ocean Aquaculture Future is a government supported research programme led by the Cawthron Institute. Cawthron Institute is developing systems which will extend shellfish and seaweed aquaculture into exposed ocean sites.
Traditionally mussel farms have been located in sheltered inshore bays. As demand increases for New Zealand’s greenshell mussels, the industry is extending its farming activities into more exposed ocean. Farming these new areas will require new structures, upgraded engineering and will need to be more robust to operate in these dynamic waters.
Ngā Punga o Te Moana is now trialing the Clamp Float on its prototype open ocean structure in Tasman Bay. Paul Smith is also working with the programme as a member of the Float Working Group.
“Smithy is an out of the box thinker. He has a wealth of knowledge derived from years in marine associated industries. He and his staff can not only help with design, they can also advise on manufacturing and process, which is invaluable.”
Nicholas Scott - Operations Coordinator: Nga Punga o te Moana, Cawthron Institute
Mussel Spat
Retention
Mussel spat retention is currently one of the biggest issues facing mussel farmers. It’s common to lose up to 70% of spat (tiny juvenile mussels) from culture lines, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
It’s something that got us thinking so S & S Floats is experimenting with ways to improve how the culture ropes hold the spat. Watch this space.
FINALISTS
2023 Seafood Sustainability awards:
Operational Innovator Award
2023 Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards:
Marine Industry